I'm a little surprised that no one has brought this up yet but maybe it's because this is something we've all kind of already assumed. Though the quote doesn't actually have him saying "I want Mario Williams type of money", he's not ruling it out. This article just confirms that he's holding out for a contract that is bigger than one we can really give him.

_________________If you think education is tough, try being stoopid.

February 18th, 2013, 11:52 am

DJ-B

Rookie Player of the Year

Joined: April 5th, 2007, 5:51 pmPosts: 2320

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Pretty sure they hinted that he was saying last years offer ($30m for 3) isnt going to cut it, and since I dont think he is worth over 8,/yr if hes getting 4-6 years, i think you pass and move on.

February 18th, 2013, 12:13 pm

Killwill25

Rookie Player of the Year

Joined: March 5th, 2009, 8:42 pmPosts: 2312Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

i was glad to hear this because now we can officially start moving on without him. I wish him well though, he's a good guy.

_________________Matthew Stafford is the only player in NFL history who is allowed to smoke cigarettes in the team huddle. He just chooses not to

February 18th, 2013, 12:21 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Killwill25 wrote:

i was glad to hear this because now we can officially start moving on without him. I wish him well though, he's a good guy.

He must have raped your children too...

February 18th, 2013, 12:42 pm

inheritedlionsfan

Team MVP

Joined: January 13th, 2006, 4:18 amPosts: 3347Location: Maryland

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

I'll see if I can find the video of the interview PFT did with him. I think someone else posted it on here. The number one thing in choosing where to sign was money. While I like Avril, I've been resigned to the fact that he would not be re-signed and we'd have to move on without him. If he would have accepted a reasonable contract I'd have been all for bringing him back, but I think he's going to try and break the bank wherever he goes. I'd be in talks with him and other teams about a potential trade, see if where he wants to go wants him then franchise tag and trade him. Obviously we'd have to take less value because they know we don't have leverage, if we had to keep him at the tag salary it couldn't be done, but we might be able to wrangle a couple mid round picks from a team to ensure they get him. While technically against the rules, maybe it could work.

Yes yes I know its not going to happen so before the naysayers show up I know I'm just dreaming.

February 18th, 2013, 12:44 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

inheritedlionsfan wrote:

I'll see if I can find the video of the interview PFT did with him. I think someone else posted it on here. The number one thing in choosing where to sign was money. While I like Avril, I've been resigned to the fact that he would not be re-signed and we'd have to move on without him. If he would have accepted a reasonable contract I'd have been all for bringing him back, but I think he's going to try and break the bank wherever he goes. I'd be in talks with him and other teams about a potential trade, see if where he wants to go wants him then franchise tag and trade him. Obviously we'd have to take less value because they know we don't have leverage, if we had to keep him at the tag salary it couldn't be done, but we might be able to wrangle a couple mid round picks from a team to ensure they get him. While technically against the rules, maybe it could work.

Yes yes I know its not going to happen so before the naysayers show up I know I'm just dreaming.

It's not against the rules to tag him and trade him. I would tell any team, "you want him in by training camp, give us a 4th or 5th rounder for him." That's nothing if they're willing to shell out the type of K that he wants.

Otherwise they can pull the FT and let him sign where ever at the last possible minute, but after he passes the physical, etc. it's likely going to be 1/2 way through the preseason.

February 18th, 2013, 12:52 pm

inheritedlionsfan

Team MVP

Joined: January 13th, 2006, 4:18 amPosts: 3347Location: Maryland

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Tagging a player and later trading him is not against the rules, but I thought that technically, tagging the player just to trade him is. A few years ago there was some buzz about this but I forget which team was involved with it.

February 18th, 2013, 1:11 pm

thelomasbrowns

Rookie Player of the Year

Joined: August 24th, 2010, 9:54 pmPosts: 2431

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

inheritedlionsfan wrote:

Tagging a player and later trading him is not against the rules, but I thought that technically, tagging the player just to trade him is. A few years ago there was some buzz about this but I forget which team was involved with it.

GB and Flynn?

_________________"There were a couple times where I was just like, 'Is that legal?" Warford said. "Cause he was getting laid out. I was like, 'Someone might call the cops. This is not fair.'"

February 18th, 2013, 2:09 pm

njroar

Player of the Year - Offense

Joined: September 25th, 2007, 3:20 amPosts: 2833

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Tagging someone also requires that you have the cap available to tag him. And tag and trade only works if he signs the tag. He could refuse to sign which would eliminate all trade attempts.

February 18th, 2013, 4:14 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

njroar wrote:

Tagging someone also requires that you have the cap available to tag him. And tag and trade only works if he signs the tag. He could refuse to sign which would eliminate all trade attempts.

You don't have to be under that cap until a certain date in the offseason, and I believe its after the draft.

If someone is willing to pay that big a contract for him, it's probably better for the Lions to just let walk and take the 3rd rd comp pick later. If they tag him and he signs the tender then the money would be tied up until the trade goes through so it could affect free agency. Also if all they can get is a 4th or 5th a late 3rd rd comp pick would be a little better.

February 18th, 2013, 6:09 pm

Blueskies

Player of the Year - Offense

Joined: September 13th, 2007, 12:43 pmPosts: 2836

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Here's the problem: If the Lions can't resign Avril, their hands become very much tied in the draft. Meaning, the loss of Avril combined with the loss of KVB will force them to take a DE with their first pick, or otherwise trade/sign someone of Avril's quality. Perhaps they have already done extensive scouting and like one of the top DE, but I wouldn't want to have such limited options.

Here's the problem: If the Lions can't resign Avril, their hands become very much tied in the draft. Meaning, the loss of Avril combined with the loss of KVB will force them to take a DE with their first pick, or otherwise trade/sign someone of Avril's quality. Perhaps they have already done extensive scouting and like one of the top DE, but I wouldn't want to have such limited options.

They have yet to draft a player purely on need, they have had plenty of chances and to their credit/detriment they have stuck with their idea of BPA in the first round.

February 18th, 2013, 6:22 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

Blueskies wrote:

Here's the problem: If the Lions can't resign Avril, their hands become very much tied in the draft. Meaning, the loss of Avril combined with the loss of KVB will force them to take a DE with their first pick, or otherwise trade/sign someone of Avril's quality. Perhaps they have already done extensive scouting and like one of the top DE, but I wouldn't want to have such limited options.

You say that about Avril as if he is a must replace... But what about replacing Backus? IMO LT is as big of a need or greater.

On this team a LT is more important than a DE.

February 18th, 2013, 6:29 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Cliff Avril may want Mario Williams type money

rao wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

Here's the problem: If the Lions can't resign Avril, their hands become very much tied in the draft. Meaning, the loss of Avril combined with the loss of KVB will force them to take a DE with their first pick, or otherwise trade/sign someone of Avril's quality. Perhaps they have already done extensive scouting and like one of the top DE, but I wouldn't want to have such limited options.

They have yet to draft a player purely on need, they have had plenty of chances and to their credit/detriment they have stuck with their idea of BPA in the first round.

I agree, but if anyone can't see that this BPA shat is busted, they're blind.